As one of the most vintage of rock bands still presently putting out music, AC/DC have had their share of health woes over the past few years. The rock community was shocked when singer Brian Johnson had to suddenly drop off the band’s tour or risk total hearing loss. Of course, that came after founding guitarist Malcolm Young stepped away from the band following the admission that he was suffering from dementia. Now, former drummer Phil Rudd, who was not asked to return to the band after being arrested, has revealed that he’s currently recovering from a heart attack.
The 62 year-old Rudd tells the New Zealand Herald that he had a heart attach and he has a stent inside:
“I was just at home walking around at home, and I started feel, well just funny. You know how you can feel funny? I had a strange pain in my chest. So my housekeeper took me to the hospital, when they hooked me up and did all these tests turned out I had a big heart attack…my artery was all blocked up, and they said I had to stay in and have an operation.”
Rudd dealt with the news in a very Phil Rudd way – by leaving the hospital to get cigarettes, realizing he had no car, walking home to get his Ferrari and driving to the hospital. He had a stent inserted in his arm.:
“Weird because they shave your man parts, but they put it in your arm. All I have is a tiny scar in my wrist. And my hair has grown back too so I am all good, I am healthy and got so much colour in my cheeks.”
Now that he’s recovered (and more importantly, now that his eight months of house arrest for threatening to kill his employee and drug possession is over), he’s re-releasing a solo album, Head Job, and touring Europe. AC/DC, on the other hand, is currently playing what could well be their last-ever tour in support of Rock or Bust with Axl Rose on vocals.
